Spinal Stenosis: Non-Surgical chiropractic Care Recommended

01/31/2011

Non-Surgical Treatment for Spinal Stenosis Is Successful

In Baton Rouge , our community of "baby boomers" are met with a growing concern as they reach old age; spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis - cervical spinal stenosis, thoracic spine stenosis, lumbar spine stenosis - is the narrowing of the spinal canal, making it too tight for the spinal nerves, spinal cord and other spinal components to co-exist without infringing on each other's space. As we age, our spinal discs deteriorate, the vertebral bones move closer to each other, compressing spinal nerves. Developing in pain.

The Baton Rouge Spinal Stenosis Sufferers

Primarily, spinal stenosis affects patients over 50 years of age, and it really affects more and more people at 60, 70, and 80. It's been reported that 1 in 200 people over age 50 have spinal stenosis. (1) One report states that 100% of 33 asymptomatic persons -- persons reporting no pain -- over 55 years old have lumbar spinal stenosis. (2) Could you be one of the patients with spinal stenosis in Baton Rouge ?

Medical and chiropractic research bolsters the use of conservative, non-operative, non-surgical treatment for spinal stenosis when possible. chiropractic care is a conservative, non-surgical approach. Why conservative, chiropractic care for spinal stenosis? Read on.

chiropractic Spinal Stenosis Care

Medical researchers call for "aggressive, non-surgical care" for stenosis. (14) Offered at Spine & Sports Rehab Center, the Cox Technic system of protocols for spine pain relief has published guidelines for care and relief expectations. Spine & Sports Rehab Center adheres to these guidelines to aggressively manage back pain non-surgically. Both of us - the doctor and the patient - play important roles in healing: appointments, treatment, exercise, nutrition, ergonomics, etc.

re-aligning the facet joints and re-storing motion to the joints to the best of their ability

There is hope for relief and control of your pain even when stenosis and disc degeneration narrow the spinal space. Spine & Sports Rehab Center offers Cox Technic flexion distraction and decompression to help you avoid the extra emotional - frustration over not getting the help you need or enough relief to regain your quality of life - and financial costs associated with dealing with spinal stenosis in Baton Rouge .

Cost of Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis treatment is expensive whether you have spinal stenosis in Baton Rouge or elsewhere. Options for managing spinal stenosis are non-surgical and surgical; however, comparing the outcomes and costs is enlightening.

In a 3-year study of Medicare patients treated surgically and non-surgically (9), it is reported that the

surgery patients cost $49,624

non-surgery patients cost $36,691

In another study (4), the adjusted mean hospital charges for two types of surgical procedures were

$80,888 for complex fusion procedures

$23,724 for decompression alone.

Researchers found that from 2002-2007 (4)

the rate of complex fusion procedures increased 15 times - from 1.3 to 19.9 per 100,000 beneficiaries.

life-threatening complications increased with increasing surgical invasiveness, from 2.3% among patients having decompression alone to 5.6% among those having complex fusions.

Surgery for leg pain (radiculopathy) with herniated lumbar disc and symptomatic spinal stenosis is associated with short-term benefits compared to non-surgical therapy, but benefits of the surgical care diminish with long-term follow-up (5)

Non-surgical options cost less.

Surgery or No Surgery for Baton Rouge Spinal Stenosis? Try No Surgery First

Which is right for you? Consider these reports:

Lumbar spinal stenosis patients over 70 with radicular symptoms are good candidates for conservative treatment as long as complete myelographic block is not present. (6)

Atlas et al's 8 to 10 year follow up study (7) revealed nearly the same outcomes in surgically and non-surgically treated stenosis patients who reported that their predominant symptom of low back pain was improved: 53% of surgically treated and 50% of non-surgically.

Both groups were satisfied with their current status:

55% of surgically treated stenosis patients

49% of non-surgically treated stenosis patients.

Spinal manipulation is recommended by The American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians for primary care of low back pain. (10)

Washington state Worker's Compensation data from 1994 to 2001 compared lumbar fusion with cages and instrumentation to non-surgical care in 1950 subjects (11):

Lumbar cage fusion rates increased from 3.6% in 1996 to 58% in 2001

Result was increased complication risk without improving disability or reoperation rates.

2 years after fusion

64% disabled

22% re-operation

other complications 12%

Lumbar fusion devices compared with exercise and cognitive intervention are no better.

Use of cages or instrumentation was associated with increased complication risk compared with bone-only fusions without improving disability or re-operation rates.

Use of intervertebral fusion devices rose rapidly after their introduction in 1996.

This increased use was associated with an increased complication risk without improving disability or reoperation rates.

A study of Worker Compensation patients with chronic low back pain was conducted from January 1999 to December 2001. The randomly selected patients were followed through January 2006. The results were not favorable for surgery. (12)

725 lumbar fusion cases were compared to 725 controls who did not undergo surgery.

BETTER NON-SURGICAL RETURN TO WORK STATISTICS

2 years after fusion surgery:

Only 26% of fusion cases had returned to work

67% of non-surgical controls had returned to work

Re-operation Rate: 27%

Surgical Complications: 36% of lumbar fusion subjects

LOWER Non-Surgical Permanent Disability Rates

11% for surgical cases

2% for non-operative controls.

LESS Non-Surgical Drug Use

among lumbar fusion surgical patients:

41%increased daily opioid drug use after surgery

76% of cases continuing opioid drug use after surgery.

FEWER Non-Surgical Patient Days Off Work

Total number of days off work was more prolonged for surgical cases:

1140 days for surgical

316 days for non-surgical

The Baton Rouge chiropractic Option

Most chiropractic patients work as they continue to heal. Most don't take medication or have to worry about re-operation. chiropractic's non-surgical, non-drug approach to spinal stenosis pain relief may be appealing to you. Consider Murphy's research paper showing that lumbar spinal stenosis patients improved by 76% and disability improved in 73% of 57 patients treated with Cox distraction and/or neural mobilization. (8)

"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page."

About Us

Call us to set up an appointment: 225-924-3989

About Our chiropractic Practice

Our method at Spine & Sports Rehab Center on chiropractic wellness as well as the easement of pain, especially spine pain and its related conditions. We offer in depth care for back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, arm pain, leg pain, and injuries to the body from a car accident, sports injury or other cause. Our chiropractic practice attentively serves the Baton Rouge area. We pride ourselves on being patient-oriented and responsive to your needs be they about insurance filing or appointment making or your health and healing. We offer unique treatment plans to meet your exact needs. If you're in need of a chiropractic in the Baton Rouge area, contact us today!